Israeli Peer wins amid another round of protests

Auckland: Israel’s Shahar Peer ignored noisy jeers at the ASB Classic from pro-Palestinian protestors Thursday, reaching the semi-finals over Russian Maria Kirilenko 6-0, 3-6, 6-1.

Five people were arrested in addition to one person taken into custody Wednesday for similar protests. About 20 members of the local Global Peace and Justice group who object to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians refused police requests to stop using megaphones to protest Peer’s participation.Peer, ranked 30th, needed 23 minutes to win the first set but found herself in a battle as Kirilenko took the second before the Israeli regained control in the third.Peer is to play Friday for the final against Belgian third seed Yanina Wickmayer, who ended the run of 39-year-old Japanese Kimiko Date Krumm 6-2, 6-2. Top seed Flavia Pennetta, who has lost just 13 games in three matches, put out Slovak Dominika Cibulkova 6-1, 6-2. She awaits an opponent from doubles partner Francesca Schiavone, the fourth seed, who was to face Alize Cornet of France later in the day. IANS